Athletic supporter



Oct. 4, 1932. J. J. CARTLEDGE ATHLETIC SUPPORTER Filed Aug. 10. 193.1

AW 732M Patented Oct. 4, 1932 JOHN J. CARTLEDGE, or GUELPH, ONTARIO, CANADA I ATHLETIC SUPPORTER Application filed August 10, 1931, Serial No. 556,204, and in Canada August 14, 1930;

This invention relates to supporters adapted to protect the scrotum against strains often causing erious troubles and is more particularly intended for wear by athletes and other persons indulging in sports, and my improvements are of such a nature as to avoid objectionable features found in the form of supporter heretofore produced.

The object of my invention is, therefore, to provide a supporter which, while positively affording a firm support to the parts where it is applied, will not be cumbersome and will cause no hindrance to the free movements of the wearer.

Another object isto provide a supporter with a waist-band, so constructed as to prevent projecting seams causing discomfort and irritation to the body of the wearer.

A further object i to provide a. waist-band which, while snugly fitting the body, will not become displaced thereon and will at no time cause a displacement of the supporter.

So as to more clearly describe my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing an embodiment of my invention, and I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to limit my construction to the form shown, which is capable of modification falling within the scope of my invention.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front View of my improved athletic supporter.

Fig. 2 i a side View of the improved athletic supporter showing the coordination of the parts.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawing,

A represents my supporter having the general outline and appearance of appliances of that nature for like purposes. It comprises a waist-band 10 of suitable dimensions made of suitable material such as elastic webhing or like material which is stretchable only in the direction of its length and is adapted to easily fit around the body of the wearer at approximately the waist-line. The waist-band 10 may be made endless; and where there are ends to be joined they should be so joined as to leave a clean smooth inner surface unbroken by the joining so as not to inconvenience the wearer. On opposite sides of the waist-band 10 leg bands 11 are provided and are connected to said waist-band 10 by the usual stitching and also are made of elastic webbing or other suitable material. The said leg bands 11 extend downwardly from the waist-band 10 and converge to a common point where they are connected by suitable stitching to a sack or pouch 12 of the conventional shape and formation and which usually consists of two pieces of elastic webbing joined together on a central line and provided with a facing 14 on its lower part. The material of the sack or pouch 12 is stretchable only in the direction at a right angle to the waist-band 10, that is, up and down.

A novel feature of my invention is the provision of an additional depending abdominal portion 13 on the lower front edge of the waist-band 10. The said abdominal portion 13 is stretchable in the same direction as the waist-band 10, that is, on the horizontal line. The lower edge of the said abdominal portion 13 is finished of a length to extend across the top of the sack or pouch 12 over which it is secured by stitching in an overlapping engagement thereby providing a strong, non-stretchable border connection between the sack or pouch 12 and said abdominal portion 13. The upper edge of the abdominal portion 13 is made longer than the lower edge and is placed in abutment with the lower edge of the waist-band l0 and is securely stitched thereto.

From the above it will be seen thatthe waist-band 10 and the abdominal portion 13 are made so as to stretch together in one direction, while the sack or pouch 12, stretching in the opposite direction and being separated from the greater part of the abdominal portion 1.3 by a non-stretchable portion, will not be affected in its assigned functions by the stretching of the waist-band 10 and each will thus respond independently of the other to the requirement placed on it by the part of the body of the wearer with which it is in contact. Owing to the interposition of the abdominal portion 13 the waist-band 10 will be better prevented from leaving the waist-line by slipping due to the pull of the sack or pouch 12 with the desired result that the wearer will feel no hindrance in any of his movements or changes of position and will at all times have full positive support where and when it is necessary.

I have also found that with this type of support, a sack or pouch of non-stretchable material may be advantageously used since the stretch of the waist-band is in no Way impeded by the non-elasticity of the sack or pouch.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An athletic supporter comprising a longitudinally elastic waist-band, leg straps secured to said waist-band, :1 depending abdominal elastic portion joined elastically to said waist-band and stretchable in the same direction as the waist-band, a pouch stretchable in a direction transverse to that of the waist-band and secured to the abdominal portion to form an unstretchable union, the lower part of the pouch being joined to the leg straps.

2. An athletic supporter comprising a longitudinally elastic waist-band, leg straps secured to said waist-band, a depending abdominal elastic portion joined elastically to said waist-band and stretchable in the same direction as the waist-band, and a pouch secured to the abdominal portion to form an unstretchable union the lower part of the pouch being joined to the le straps.

Dated at Guelph, Ontano, this 17th day of July, A. D. 1931.

- J. J. CARTLTIDGE. 

